Melon-headed and malicious: Two suspects stole from Sheetz with watermelons on their heads

LOUISA, Va. (WRIC) — The Louisa Police Department said they have made an arrest after asking for the public’s help identifying two people suspected of stealing from a Sheetz while wearing hollowed-out watermelons on their heads.

Police said two people arrived at a Sheetz in Louisa in a lifted 2006 black Toyota Tacoma at 9:35 p.m. on May 5. The suspects wore hollowed-out watermelons with holes cut out for the eyes when they entered the convenience store to commit larceny.

Police photos of the two suspects and the car they drove

Police have arrested one of the suspects so far. Justin M. Rogers, who was 20 at the time of the crime, was charged with wearing a mask in public while committing larceny, underage possession of alcohol, and petit larceny of alcohol.

Sheetz customer Barry Welch said he was kind of blown away when he saw the photos, “but it wasn’t super shocking being out here in Louisa, we’ve always had some crazy news stories going around. I definitely give them some points for ingenuity.”

Welch was a bit surprised at the suspects’ choice of face covering.

“Well I was like at a time like this you could’ve worn any kind of mask, but to come up with a watermelon,” Welch said.

Candice Wendt, another customer, said “I think it’s ridiculous. Innovative, but ridiculous. The amount of work that you have to do to actually hollow-out a watermelon to stick it on your head, I think, is kind of crazy…” “…why? Why would they do that? It’s so stupid,” she asked.